The Absurdity and Hilarity of Jean (Hans) Arp's Sculptures

As World War I begins, Jean (Hans) Arp is torn between two nations, Germany and France, questioning the "civility" of sending young men to their deaths. Arp, along with other artists identifying with the Dada movement, reject the formal rules taught in “civilized” art schools and begin to create a new style of art. His signature biomorphic forms are fantastically weird and often absurd. Becky Daniels, Gallery Educator at the Nasher Sculpture Center, focuses on Arp's sculpture, 'Three Disagreeable Objects on a Face,' (1930). This work emerged from a dream Arp writes: “I awoke from a deep and dreamless sleep with disagreeable objects on my face. Sophie said they were a big fly, a mustache, and a little mandolin I had no intention whatsoever of removing them. Quite the opposite. I remained motionless so that they wouldn’t fall from my face.” Arp’s work bridges the gap between traditional, representational art, which presents objects as they look in the real world, and completely abstract work. This Live Look originally aired on Facebook December 4, 2018 during 'The Nature of Arp' exhibition at the Nasher Sculpture Center. (https://nashersc.org/nature-arp-disag...)